Recent Home, Garden & DIY picks

Whether you’ve decided to roll up your sleeves or put up your feet, you’ll be interested in this month’s home, garden & DIY blog. Tips include bathroom upgrade, tasteful home and garden, and even creative DIY with industrial pipes.

DIY industrial pipe furniture & decor : creative projects for every room of your home / James Angus.
“Packed with easy-to-follow tutorials and 400 step-by-step color photos, this helpful DIY guide teaches you how to transform plumbing fixtures into all types of cool household furnishings… Author James Angus explains everything you need to know, from choosing the fittings and using the right tools to mastering the art of assembly and adding designer touches for a finished look.” (Page 4 of cover)

Bathroom upgrades / editors of Fine Homebuilding.
“Bathroom upgrades, from the editors of Fine Homebuilding, provides all the advice you need to remodel a bathroom of any size or shape, on any budget. Our pros take you through every step of the process with the site-tested tips and techniques that Fine Homebuilding is known for to help you create the bathroom you’ve always dreamed of.”–Back cover.

The hinterland : cabins, love shacks and other hide-outs / [edited by Sven Ehmann and Robert Klanten].
“The cabin has become our third place, our hideaway where we can recharge our spirits and reconnect with ourselves, away from the restraints of society and the stress of the everyday. This book presents the best new cabin architecture and design. We all need to be somewhere else, just for a little while. The cabin is that somewhere else. They allow us to get into a different state of mind, one where we can just have a good time. Four walls and a roof and a weekend–these getaways free us from the distracting and unessential, and put us back in touch with nature and our own inner peace. In cabins, we can savor solitude or share experiences with friends among mountains, rivers, woods, and wildlife…” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

101 organic gardening hacks : eco-friendly solutions to improve any garden / Shawna Coronado.
“The word “hack” has a multitude of meanings these days, but if you ask garden author Shawna Coronado what a hack is, she might just wave her hand toward her own back yard. She could be pointing at the garden bench she created from leftover wood posts and a few cinder blocks, or the rows of wine bottles buried soldier-style along a winding pathway, or even the garden soil itself, which is blended by hand from an organic soil recipe she devised. A hack is really just a great idea that’s come to life… Divided into a dozen different categories for easy reference, each hack is accompanied by a clear photo that shows you exactly how to complete it.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

L’art de la simplicite = how to live more with less / Dominique Loreau.
“Dominque Loreau is the master in the art of de-cluttering and simplifying. Now her groundbreaking L’art de la Simplicite, a huge bestseller in her native France, is translated into English for the first time. Loreau’s principle of “less is more” is set to change your life forever. Living in Japan and inspired by Asian philosophy, Loreau takes you on a step-by-step journey to a clutter-free home, a calm mind and an energized body. Free yourself of possessions you don’t want or need; have more money to spend on life’s little luxuries; eat better and lose weight; and say goodbye to anxiety and negative relationships.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The art of hygge : how to bring Danish cosiness into your life / Jonny Jackson & Elias Larsen.
“Hygge (pronounced ‘hue-ga’) is a Danish word that describes the feeling of being cosy, comfortable and at peace with the world. It’s almost impossible to translate into English, but this concept might explain why Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world. The Art of Hygge is packed with delicious recipes to share with friends, craft ideas for decorating your home, and inspirational suggestions for enjoying the magic of everyday pleasures.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Build a better vegetable garden : 30 DIY projects to improve your harvest / Joyce Russell ; photography by Ben Russell.
“Following on from the hugely successful Polytunnel Book, Joyce and Ben Russell have devised 30 kitchen garden projects that anyone can make and enjoy. Not only do the projects add decorative detail to the garden, each project is devised to either extend the season, protect crops from pests or improve yields. Apart from the obvious cost-savings benefits from growing or making your own, the desire to work with craft fulfils the need to keep improving your patch of land.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

She sheds : a room of your own / Erika Kotite.
“Create your very own hideaway right at home with She Sheds. They’ve got their man caves, and it’s time for you to have a space of your own. She Sheds shows you how to create cozy getaways with inspiration from across the country. Start by defining the goal and purpose of your space. Will you use it for entertaining, crafting, or alone time? Then, use the gallery of over 100 photos as inspiration for your decor, paint colors, and landscaping. You’ll even find fun upcycling ideas to personalize your space…” (adapted from Syndetics summary)